Lake Victoria 
13 
power that was revealed to us from the river banks, and it was 
increased in value by the entirely unconcealed appreciation 
accorded by the English officers and all the crew of the Sybil, 
to whom such a scene was entirely new. The march past lasted 
for an hour and a half, and was completed by the arrival of 
the yth Company, stationed at Bukoba, and the troops obtained 
by Lieutenant von Wiese for the expedition, flying the German 
flag and that of my own country, Mecklenburg. 
Some seven thousand people awaited us on the banks as I 
landed, escorted by Captain von Stuemer (the others had pre¬ 
ceded us), for the welcome at ten o’clock. The soldiers and the 
military police, together with the sultans’ troops, came to the 
salute. All the bands struck up, and in the midst of their strains, 
which reverberated far away across the lake, there suddenly pene¬ 
trated the customary ear-deafening clamour, shouting and hand¬ 
clapping from the squatting crowd, whilst above this wild 
din the melodious greeting of the Wahaia rang clearly out: 
Kamerere, rugdwa, Kamerere, rugdwa. 
After a hearty exchange of salutations with the sultans, by 
shaking of hands and a few words in Suaheli, which is the 
language generally used here, I was at last able to direct my 
attention to the newly enlisted carriers for the expedition, 
amongst whom I found many who were familiar to me from 
the 1905 journey. These fine fellows seemed genuinely pleased 
to see me, and came up and stretched out their hands in a loyal 
fashion. 
At the house of the Resident, whither we were escorted by the 
whole crowd, I greeted the missionaries of the White Fathers 
stationed at Marienberg, at whose head stood Bishop Hirth. We 
then sat down to a repast, in the middle of which Professor 
Koch, who had returned from a tour of inspection, appeared 
quite unexpectedly. I was also given an opportunity of 
admiring the musical skill of the mission school band. 
The days we spent there passed quickly with native festivals, 
at which dancing and the beating of the goma went on day and 
night, and with visits in Marienberg and to the residence of 
